Famous Songs Inspired by Gambling

Gambling has long been part of the human experience; as such, it’s no surprise that it appears everywhere in pop culture, movies, TV shows, and even music. But music isn’t always the easiest to understand—so which famous songs are inspired by gambling?

Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones, Viva Las Vegas, and Poker Face are some of the most famous songs about gambling, but the list doesn’t end here. Read on to discover more famous songs inspired by gambling.

1. Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley

While this song isn’t about a specific type of gambling, it’s about Las Vegas, which is widely known as the gambling capital of the world and was once home to the king himself. One of the most famous songs ever about the city, it is a must-include on any gaming playlist.

2. Poker Face by Lady Gaga

This song is obviously about poker; when else would you need a poker face? Although the song doesn’t actually talk about playing, it is still notable in our eyes.

3. Ace of Spades by Motorhead

This song literally starts with the line “if you like to gamble,” and though it isn’t nearly as famous as some of the others on our list, it is definitely a song about gambling and perfect for your next poker night.

4. The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

With a title like “The Gambler,” you know immediately what this song by Kenny Rogers is about. Specifically, about poker, this tune is known around the world for the line, “know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,” which is a lesson in and of itself.

5. Luck Be a Lady by Frank Sinatra

Another man famous for his life in Las Vegas, Frank Sinatra, sang about luck while gambling in his song, “Luck Be a Lady.” The song discusses that luck is finicky, just like a woman is, and while it doesn’t directly discuss gaming, it really embodies the themes behind gambling, which is why it made this list of famous songs inspired by gambling.

6. Tumblin’ Dice by The Rolling Stones

Another obvious gambling tune, the song Tumblin’ Dice by The Rolling Stones is about, you guessed it, tumbling dice—an obvious gambling theme. Of course, the term in the song is an allegory for taking risks, but hey, that applies to gambling too.

7. Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyonce

Another obvious title, “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyonce, took the charts when it first came out, and it’s easy to see why. While this song is another metaphor for taking what life throws at you, it embodies poker with excellence, and we recommend putting it on your gambling playlist.

8. Gambling Man by The Overtones

Apparently, many musicians associate gambling with the risks involved in falling in love, because this is another tune describing as much. We especially love how The Overtones added in lines from some of the aforementioned songs on this list, such as “luck be a lady tonight” which really brings the theme to a whole new level.

9. The Card Cheat by The Clash

One of the many famous songs inspired by gambling, this tune by The Clash talks about what happens to someone who cheats at cards. Unlike the other songs on this list, this song shines gambling in more of a negative light, which is why we think some people prefer to forget about it, but we think it’s still a great lesson for gamblers to remember, especially those who try to count cards.

10. Roll of the Dice by Bruce Springsteen

Another anthem about how life is like a dice roll, of course, the iconic Bruce Springsteen wrote a song about gaming. We especially love the line at the beginning of the song where Springsteen says, “Well, I’ve been a losin’ gambler,” it’s really catchy and perfect for a gambling night in.

11. Loser by Jerry Garcia

It seems like all gambling songs are either an allegory for love, or a ballad about losing. This next song is of the latter, but we love how it discusses exact poker hands, specifically an inside straight, when the singer belts about losing. This song isn’t as popular as some of the others on the list, but it is a must for any gambling playlist.

12. The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels

Now, this next song on our list of famous songs about gambling is a little different because, instead of discussing casinos, dice, or poker, like all of the other songs, it references gambling on a small scale. In this song, the devil makes a bet with a fiddle player, asking him to gamble over his soul. It’s a very entertaining and interesting song, and we recommend checking out the lyrics for yourself before making up your mind about it.

13. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man by Bob Seger

This song about gambling is one of our favorites, and it not only talks about throwing dice, but also spinning fortune wheels, which is more rare in gambling songs. We also love how this song discusses running out of money in the chorus, because everyone knows that is the reality as a gamer.

14. Casino Queen by Wilco

One of the lesser-known tunes on our list, this one truly embodies casino gaming; its lyrics even reference a riverboat cruise with a casino. It just unfortunately got lost as many more famous artists came out with casino-themed songs around the same time, most notably Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen.

15. Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton

Last on our list of famous songs about gambling (but certainly not least) is Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton. Although we love this song, we find that it’s more about love than actual gambling. Beyond the super catchy title, the Queen of Hearts card just isn’t that big in gambling, which is why it’s all the way down here. Though it should definitely go on your gaming playlist!